Shackleford Could Wrap Up Career in Clark

Mike
Lauffer, Bill
Cubbedge and Phillips Racing Partnership’s Shackleford,
winner of the 2011 Preakness (GI), is scheduled to be available for inspection
at Darby Dan Farm on Friday through Sunday, but Thursday will not be the
last day at the track for the chestnut colt.

Shackleford
is scheduled to return to Churchill Downs at the beginning of next week and
could make his final career start in the Clark Handicap Presented by Norton
Healthcare (GI) on Nov. 23.

“We
might run him in the Clark,” trainer Dale Romans said. “We’ll see how
he’s going into the race, but the plan right now is to go into (the Clark) or
the Cigar Mile (GI at Aqueduct on Nov. 24). As long as he trains well, he’ll
have one more race.”

Shackleford,
who finished seventh in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (GI) in his most recent
start, won the Churchill Downs (GII) on Kentucky Derby Day this year. The Clark
would be his first race at more than a mile since running seventh in the 1
1/8-mile Donn Handicap (GI) at Gulfstream Park in February.